Jeremiah 3:19-4:4

New International Version

¹⁹“I myself said,

“‘How gladly would I treat you like my children
    and give you a pleasant land,^(A)
    the most beautiful inheritance^(B) of any nation.’
I thought you would call me ‘Father’^(C)
    and not turn away from following me.
²⁰But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
    so you, Israel, have been unfaithful^(D) to me,”
declares the Lord.

²¹A cry is heard on the barren heights,^(E)
the weeping^(F) and pleading of the people of Israel,
because they have perverted their ways
and have forgotten^(G) the Lord their God.

²²“Return,^(H) faithless people;
I will cure^(I) you of backsliding.”^(J)

“Yes, we will come to you,
    for you are the Lord our God.
²³Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills^(K)
    and mountains is a deception;
surely in the Lord our God
    is the salvation^(L) of Israel.
²⁴From our youth shameful^(M) gods have consumed
    the fruits of our ancestors’ labor—
their flocks and herds,
    their sons and daughters.
²⁵Let us lie down in our shame,^(N)
    and let our disgrace cover us.
We have sinned^(O) against the Lord our God,
    both we and our ancestors;^(P)
from our youth^(Q) till this day
    we have not obeyed^(R) the Lord our God.”

4 “If you, Israel, will return,^(S)
    then return to me,”
declares the Lord.
“If you put your detestable idols^(T) out of my sight
    and no longer go astray,
²and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
    you swear,^(U) ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’^(V)
then the nations will invoke blessings^(W) by him
    and in him they will boast.^(X)”

³This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:

“Break up your unplowed ground^(Y)
    and do not sow among thorns.^(Z)
⁴Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
    circumcise your hearts,^(AA)
    you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or my wrath^(AB) will flare up and burn like fire^(AC)
    because of the evil^(AD) you have done—
    burn with no one to quench^(AE) it.

1 Corinthians 7:17-24

New International Version

Concerning Change of Status

¹⁷Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.^(A) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.^(B) ¹⁸Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.^(C) ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.^(D) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(E)

²¹Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²²For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;^(F) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.^(G) ²³You were bought at a price;^(H) do not become slaves of human beings. ²⁴Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(I)

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Mark 1:14-20

New International Version

Jesus Announces the Good News^(A)

¹⁴After John^(B) was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,^(C) proclaiming the good news of God.^(D) ¹⁵“The time has come,”^(E) he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe^(F) the good news!”^(G)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸At once they left their nets and followed him.^(H)

¹⁹When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

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